Cheap Laundry
A couple of years ago I saw this sign in Anthropologie. If you don’t have this uber-chic store within a 60 mile radius, consider yourself lucky. Because when I walk into Anthropologie I suddenly think that $78 does not seem like too much for the cutest sweater I’ve ever laid eyes on. And shut-up, a t-shirt cost $42…but it is cute. Plus the store has excellent home décor, like vintage bird cages and olive oil kitchen soap. I have to drag myself out of the place, kicking and screaming in my head, with out a tissue-lined bag filled with the $98 ribbon embossed sweater. But, because I was writing a book about laundry I told my daughter to tell my husband that I wanted the laundry sign for Christmas. Laundry 10¢
I hung the laundry sign on top of the window in my laundry room. It sits up there all cute, but when I glace at it now, the back of my neck feels warm. A bit of animosity toward the sign creeps up. I don’t like the sign anymore. It isn’t cute because I’ve figured out how much laundry 10¢ means.
Approximately fifteen loads of laundry filter through my machines each week. If I receive 10¢ for each load, then I make $1.50 a week for laundry. We’re talking $80 a year I’d be reimbursed for laundry. Or one sweater at Anthropologie. Or not.
Often moms feel we aren’t rewarded for our toil. Yeah, we aren’t. But if we start trying to put a price on our labor, we’ll always come up short. Because although there is no cash paid for our endless diaper changes or middle of the night barf fests, there is also not enough money to buy the pride felt after multiplication tables are memorized or the first toddling steps are taken. The number of events that are priceless to parents is endless. If we had a dime for each of those then our bank accounts would bulge.
So even though I’d like the laundry fairy to knock out the tooth fairy some night, swipe her cash bag and pay me my due, I know it won’t happen. I’m going to adjust my attitude toward the sign, maybe sell it on Ebay, and instead think of the incalculable memories my job as mother pays.
10 Responses to “Cheap Laundry”
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November 18th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
I know there was way more interesting stuff in your post, but I got stuck at Anthroplogie. Oh, how I love Anthropologie. I could wander around for hours just petting all the pretty things that I would buy if they didn’t cost 80 bazillion dollars. The only reason I ever leave is so that I can go pet the pretty things at the flower store, lamp store, and Janie and Jack.
November 19th, 2007 at 8:38 am
I’m enjoying the mental picture of the laundry fairy and the tooth fairy in a knock-down slugfest.
November 19th, 2007 at 8:40 am
What a great post and oh…so true
November 19th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Ack! Keep the sign, it’s too cute! It would be a great visual reminder of the wonderful things that we can’t put a price on. You know, the things that cost us our sanity, youth and beauty. And yet we’re so grateful for them that we wouldn’t trade them for anything. Those kids…
November 19th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
…I’m betting on the laundry fairy. She’s used to getting down and dirty!
November 19th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
This is my first visit - I LOVE this post! It is so true … and I too am enjoying the visual of the tooth fairy and the laundry fairy slugging it out. I look forward to more visits to your blog!
November 20th, 2007 at 6:11 am
That was good, and I can’t help but think your children are sooooo well-cared for and tended to–to the extent a fashion center would be hard-pressed to “turn out” anyone.
I think of outings to stores like Anthropologie and all the wonderful centers of displayed merchandise as trips to the museum. Visual arts of work, and if I play it right, there’s no price of admission to the museum.
November 20th, 2007 at 6:11 am
That was good, and I can’t help but think your children are sooooo well-cared for and tended to–to the extent a fashion center would be hard-pressed to “turn out” anyone.
I think of outings to stores like Anthropologie and all the wonderful centers of displayed merchandise as trips to the museum. Visual arts of work, and if I play it right, there’s no price of admission to the museum.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
So often we like to play the martyr roll but we really shouldn’t. As you pointed out look at all we get in return.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:43 am
But, but, if I stop playing the martyr role, I wouldn’t know who I was. ;o)
I’d keep the sign, too. Just readjust your view of it. Maybe it could be a reminder to be grateful that you don’t have to wash other people’s dirty socks and poo poo undies for a living! And, I’m talking about people you don’t know…. as I type this I remember there was a place at college that offered wash, dry, fold service.
For college kids? Who go to keg parties and… well, you remember don’t you? Now that is just gross.
Somebody shake up my Etch-A-Sketch brain and help me draw a new picture! hahaha